PREFACE.
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The exertions of the British Government to introduce the study of English into Assam, and through that medium to instruct the natives in the liberal arts and sciences, have not hitherto met with any degree of success. Our country- men unable to appreciate the advantages of an English education, instead of exhibiting a grateful feeling towards the Government for the intended good, betrayed so un- favorable a disposition towards the project as almost led to its abandonment. Nor does it yet seem likely that they will soon display any promptitude to educate their youth in English.
During the prosperity of the Ahom kings, the children of the respectable classes of people were instructed in Sanscrit ; but since the conquest of Assam by the English, owing to the want of sufficient encouragement, Sanscrit education has been entirely neglected, so that, at present the Assamese Youths have very little chance of enjoying to any consi- derable extent the blessings of education.
The plan pursued in the vernacular Schools established by Government is not sufficient of itself to give the students a useful practical education, for, the books used in them are in the Bengali language, and consequently they are not strictly vernacular.
The necessity of educational improvemeat in this country being very urgent, some attempt to raise the Assamese from
